Launched in 1989, Legacy has won a wide variety of awards over the last 20 years including Japan Car of the Year in 2003, six NZ Autocar Car of the Year Awards over the past decade including two overall Autocar Car of the Year titles, and two AA Motoring Excellence Awards.
The new generation of Legacy has also been awarded the prestigious “Triple Crown” of safety awards: 5-star ANCAP, 5-star Euro NCAP, and the US Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.
Highly rated from its earliest days for crashworthiness, Legacy helped establish Subaru’s safety credentials in New Zealand, with every variant getting dual front airbags in 1994.   
 
Ten years later in 2004, every new Legacy received a 5-star rating for occupant safety from the independent and respected Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).  Today, every Subaru in the range has a 5-star ANCAP rated model and Impreza is New Zealand’s safest car according to independent ANCAP crash testing.
 
In its fifth generation form launched this year, Legacy is larger yet more economical than any predecessor and produces the lowest emissions.
 
Together with Outback, it has introduced the sophisticated and ultra-efficient Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to the range.  Offering petrol fuel economy of just just 8.4 litres per 100km.  The new Legacy 2.0D Boxer Diesel variant has fuel economy from just 5.9 litres per 100km.
 
“In many ways Legacy is the spirit of Subaru”, says Graeme Woodlands, Managing Director of Subaru of New Zealand.
 
“It was our first model with global appeal and moved the brand away from its utilitarian roots to becoming a premium Japanese automotive marque.
 
“Not only has it established a reputation as an outstanding car, it also pioneered our early rally motorsport success story.
 
“The first turbocharged Legacy paved the way for the fantastic successes that followed with the Subaru World Rally Team.
“In fact, the first ever Subaru World Rally Championship victory was here in New Zealand in a Legacy RS in 1993, driven by Colin McRae.
 
“The range has grown substantially over the years to now include four-cylinder 2.5-litre sedans and wagons, turbocharged GTs, a 3.6-litre six-cylinder sedan and a 2.0-litre Boxer Diesel.
 
 Subaru Legacy milestones:
 
1989: Legacy launched in New Zealand
 
1991: RS Turbo version launched
 
1994: All Legacys get dual front airbags
 
2000: Legacy wins Autocar Car of the Year and Autocar Medium Car of the Year with third generation Legacy.
2003: Legacy awarded Japanese Car of the Year and Sunday Star-Times Large Car of the Year.
2004: Every Legacy achieves a five-star crashworthiness rating for occupant safety from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).   Legacy wins Autocar Car of the Year and Autocar Medium Car of the Year with fourth generation Legacy.
2005: Legacy wins AA Motoring Excellence Award in the Safety Category and AA Motoring Excellence Award in the 4-cylinder category with Legacy 2.5i.
2006: Legacy Turbocharged engine wins International Engine of the Year in the 2.0 to 2.5-litre Category.
2008: Legacy Turbocharged engine again wins International  Engine of the Year in the 2.0 to 2.5-litre Category.
2008: Every Subaru Legacy has electronic stability control as a standard feature and a 5-Star ANCAP rating.
2009: Legacy wins “Triple Crown” of safety:
5-Star ANCAP Safety Rating
5-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating
Top Safety Pick U.S. Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS)
Legacy wins Autocar Medium/Large Car of the Year with fifth generation Legacy